Opposition bays for Kalmadi's blood

With the CAG naming the Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, as a party to the Games-related corruption charges, the chorus for his resignation is getting shriller.

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Headlines Today Bureau

New Delhi

August 12, 2010

UPDATED: August 12, 2010 17:23 IST

With the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India naming the Commonwealth Games (CWG) organising committee (OC) chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, as a party to the Games-related corruption charges, the chorus for his resignation is getting shriller.

In its inspection report, the CAG has found serious irregularities in the awarding of CWG contracts clearly naming Kalmadi and others. The report, which is in possession of Headlines Today, points to dubious procedures adopted for selecting a consultant for international broadcasting rights, awarding the sponsorship deal and in the Queen's Baton Relay.

Reacting to the latest expose by Headlines Today based on the CAG report indicting Kalmadi in the allegations of corruption, main opposition parties raised the CWG issue in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Seeking Kalmadi's resignation as the OC chief, the Opposition wanted to know why the Congress was shielding him.

CPI MP D. Raja demanded immediate action against Kalmadi and even put a question on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intent over the issue. "He should quit taking moral responsibility. If he doesn't quit, it is for the prime minister being the head of the government, to act. He has to act. How he is going to act let us wait and see," he said.

BJP MP Ravishankar Prasad said, "The matter is now too glaring in public domain. CVC is finding infirmities. CAG interim report is finding irregularities. Now we hear fictitious companies being granted awards. At least now Mr Suresh Kalmadi should own up and resign."

"And if he doesn't do so, it is high time... the government must take over the entire arrangement for the Game. Not only holding the Game, but the manner of holding it is equally important. Enough is enough," Prasad added.

BJP's chief whip in the Rajya Sabha, S.S. Ahluwalia also said that in the light of Headlines Today's report, it was Kalmadi's moral responsibility to put in his papers immediately.

"There has already been enough debate on the issue in Lok Sabha and whatever the (sports) minister said in reply, has been raised in the CAG report. The main opposition parties were not satisfied with the minister's reply so they had walked out of the House. Now what needs to be done will be discussed today," Ahluwalia said.

CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury said, "It is a big issue, not only a question of stepping down. Stepping down doesn't absolve (Kalmadi) of these serious charges. If you go by the standards of political morality, this ought to have happened long ago."

"Such grave charges must be enquired into, the guilty must be punished otherwise there is no credibility of the government that will be left," Yechury said adding, "You should have the Games. When you properly do it that is going to be India's pride. But in its name you can't cover up such gross corruption."

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